Menstrual Disorders

A disturbance in the normal menstrual cycle is called a menstrual disorder. Various factors are responsible for menstrual disorder. These disorders have been classified as:

i. Abnormal uterine bleeding
ii. Amenorrhea
iii. Dysmenorrhea
iv. Pre-menstrual syndrome
v. Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder

Abnormal uterine bleeding
Also referred to as AUB, this disorder is related excessive bleeding during menstrual cycle. According to experts, normal blood loss during menstruation is 2.5 ounces. However, women who bleed about 10-20 times more than that are said to be suffering from AUB. This disorder can be a result of several factors, such as, uterine abnormality and hormonal imbalances. Medical conditions such as, leukemia or liver or kidney ailments may also cause AUB.

Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is a condition where the woman does not experience a menstrual cycle. Its most common cause is said to be pregnancy. But women who are active in sports also suffer from this disorder. Stress is yet another cause of amenorrhea. Rapid gain or loss of weight may also result in amenorrhea.

Dysmenorrheal
A painful menstrual cycle is called Dysmenorrhea. There are two forms of dysmenorrheal, namely, primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrheal usually starts when the menstruation cycle starts in a female body. It lasts till the woman attains menopause. In this case, the body experiences severe form of pain or cramps. These cramps are a result of abnormal uterine contractions. Secondary dysmenorrhea is mainly caused because of an illness or ailment. Women who tend to smoke and drink excessively are more likely to develop dysmenorrhea. Also, some women start their menstrual cycle before the age of 11. These women too are more prone to dysmenorrhea.

Pre-menstrual syndrome
Popularly known as PMS, it encompasses over 100 types of symptoms. Women going through PMS are known to experience depression, severe mood swings. They may also feel fatigued. Headaches and constipation is also common during PMS.

Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder
Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD is said to be an extreme form of PMS. It is more likely to affect women who have been depression patients.